Applicator



March 21, 1961 Filed July 16, 1958 P. V. IMHOF APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PAUL V. IMHOF Arbor!!!) i March 21, 1961 P. v. IMHOF 2,975,453

APPLICATOR Filed July 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

PAUL V. IMHOF United States APPLICATOR Filed July 16, 1958, Ser. No. 748,852

3 Claims. c1. 15-210 This invention relates to an applicator, and more par ticularly to an improved applicator for covering a surface with a liquid protective coating.

In paint applicators, presently in use, such as rollers, for example, there is little or no resiliency between the handle and the applying surface, thus depriving the operator of the advantages of the resilient action attainable with other conventional types of painting apparatus, such as brushes. However, even with paint brushes, it is difiicult to cover irregular and uneven surfaces, such as decorative molding, cornices, window frame trim and woodwork with a protective covering, such as, paint or varnish. When a conventional brush is used even in a careful and expert manner, the applied covering tends to spread unevenly, collect in the recesses or indentations, and show brush marks on the raised portions.

Also, when paint is applied, either by spray, brush, or conventional applicators, to the trim around window frames, for example, there is the ever present danger of paint being inadvertently daubed on the glass or on an abutting surface, unless masking tape is used. However, the application of masking tape is time consuming and not infrequently partially ineffective.

In view of the above, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved applicator having a resilient action between the handle and the applying surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator having an applying surface which contacts the indentations and raised portions of an irregular surface with relative even applying pressure.

Another object of this invention is toprovide. an improved applicator which protects an adjoining surface from being daubed with the applied covering.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator having a novel means for securing a removable resilient applying portion therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator which is especially adapted to apply a liquid covering to-any type'of irregular surface. and to apply a liquid covering to a surface, which abuts a surface having a desired covering of another color.;

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator which will apply a covering without leaving brush marks.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved applicator which can be used by a beginner with speed and accuracy.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawing, the specification, and the appended claims.

. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the active or applying surface of the applicator comprises a piece of fabric which is characterized by a thick soft pile of short erect threads which are capable.

of holding an applicable quantity of liquid. A resilient backing cushion supports the fabric applying surface, which backing is made from a piece of foamed flexible Patented Mar. 21, 1961 ICC tations and raised portions of an irregular surface to be covered. The resilient backing cushion is supported by a rigid backing plate having a handle and a delineating rigid masking surface for preventing the undesired application of the liquid covering to surfaces abutting the surface which it is desired to paint.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an applicator constructed according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 showing a window molding with the applicator in working position on the molding;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 with the applicator in working position against an abutting surface;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another modification of the invention wherein the resilient backing cushion is removable from the handle portion; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 with the removable resilient backing cushion secured to the handle portion.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the applicator shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a metallic sheet supporting member 10 having an upper portion bent upon itself to form a handle 11, and having an intermediate lower portion bent to form a flat backing plate 12, and an outer or front portion bent downward at approximately a. ninety degree angle to form a delineating masking guide portion 13.

A resilient polyurethane backing cushion 14, the upper surface of which is similar in size and dimensions and coextensive with the surface of the backing plate 12, is attached, as by gluing, to the underside of the backing plate 12. The front edge of the cushion 14 engages the inner side of the masking guide portion 131. The resilient cushion 14 slantingly extends downward and outward beyond the side edges of the backing plate 12, so that its lower surface is longer than its upper surface. A piece of mohair 15 of the same area, and coextensive with the lower surface of the resilient cushion 14 is attached to this surface as by gluing. The handle 11 is bent at an angle to the plane side of the backing plate 12 and extends away from the front guide portion 13.

The modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is used for applying paint or varnish to larger surfaces than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises a flat metallic supporting member 16 having a handle portion 17 and a flat backing plate 18 extending normal to the handle portion 17. The handle portion 17 is formed by bending the backing plate 18 back upon itself, and then medially upward and then back upon itself again. The front edge of the backing plate 13is bent downward at substantially right angles to form a masking guide 19. A rectangularly shaped resilient polyurethane cushion 26 is attached, as by gluing, to the underside of the backing plate 18. The front edge of the cushion 20 engages the inner surface of the masking guide 19 when in place. The ends of the cushion 19 extend slightly beyond the side edges of the backing plate 18. A piece of mohair 21, which has the same area and is coextensive with the under surface of the cushion 18, is

attached as by gluing to the underside of the cushion 14.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a flat metallic supporting member 28 having an upper portion bent to form a handle 29, and having an intermediate lower portion bent to form a flat backing plate 30, and an outer or front portion bent downward at approximately a 90 angle to form a delineating masking. guide portion 31. The handle 29 is bent in the form of an inversion U-shaped spring, and comprises two substantially parallel flat sides 32 and 33, respectively. The outer or rear member 33 of the handle 29 at its lower edge is formed with a plurality of spaced projections 35. The projections 35 are bent inward substantially parallel to the surface of the backing plate 30, so they project toward the masking guide 31 on a plane above the lower edge of the masking guide. The masking guide 31 has a plurality of inwardly formed projections 34 which extend toward and oppose the edges 35.

The projections 34. and 35 are adapted to engage opposite sides of the resilient cushion 14 having the textile material 15 attached thereto. When the resilient cushion is in position beneath the backing plate 36 and against the inner side of the masking guide 31, the projections 34 and 35 grippingly engage the opposite sides of the cushion 14 intermediate its upper surface and its lower surface.

When a window sash trim as in Fig. 2, for example, is to be painted, the applicator is grasped by the handle 11, and then immersed in the paint or the liquid sufficiently to permit the mohair fabric to pick up an applicable supply. The applicator is then pressed against a window sash trim 22 surrounding a window pane 23, so that the masking guide 13 is interposed between the fabric and the glass, thereby preventing the mohair applying surface from coming in contact with the glass. The resilient cushion 14 permits the fabric applying surface 22 to cont-act the indentations and raised portions of the sash trim 22. The handle is then moved sideways along the trim 22, thus applying the liquid evenly to the irregular surface, and at the same time preventing it from being applied to the glass 23. Therefore, it is apparent that even the most inexperienced operator can speedily and expertly apply paint to such areas.

The modified form of the applicator shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted to be used for applying a liquid covering to larger surfaces, where a surface of one color abuts a surface -of another color, or one surface abuts an unpainted surface, such as wallpaper. Fig. 4 shows how the guide surface 19 of this applicator may be used to mask one surface of a room, for instance, while painting an abutting surface. In the case shown, the wall of the room is covered with paper 27. .It is the abutting surface 24- which isto be painted. Hence the applicator, after being dippedin paint,'is positioned so that its guide or masking surface 19 is pressed against the wallpaper 27 to protect the wallpaper, while the mohair portion 21 is pressed against the surface 24. The surface 24 is' painted by moving the applicator at right angles to the drawing plane, while at the same time maintaining contact of guide v19 with the surface 17 of the wall 25, so that paint is applied on surface 24 right up to the edge of the wall paper all along the length of the abutting surfaces 27 and 24. Obviously, when painting a window, the masking guide surface will permit the painting of the wood and metal sash right up to the glass without paint getting on the glass, while the glass itself serves as a guide surface for the applicator. This advantage is achievable where any flat surface is to be painted which abuts at right angles against another fiat surface.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is used in a manner similar to that described for the preceding modifications of the invention. The resilient backing cushion 14 with the applying surface 15 attached thereto is securely clamped to the underside of the backing p ate 39 against the inner side of the masking guide portion 31 by flexing the portion 33 of the handle 29 outward, and inserting the cushion 14 against the underside of the backing plate- 38. The portion 33 is then released so that the projections 34 and 35 grip opposite sides of the cushion 14 intermediate its lower and upper surfaces, thereby securely clamping it in position. The

cushion 14 can be removed for washing or replacing by merely flexing the member "33 to the rear or outward thereby causing the edge of the projections 35 to release their grip against the rear side of the cushion 14 so that it may be easily withdrawn from beneath the backing plate 30 and the inner side of the guide portion 31.

In use it is apparent that the grasping of the handle 29 merely forces the teeth 34 and 35 further into the resilient cushion 14 thereby more securely clamping it into position. It is also apparent that the clamping means in no way inteiferes with the textile applying surface when in position beneath the backing plate 30.

While this invention has been described as used for applying liquids such as paint to woodwork or the like, it can also be used as an applicator for applying fluids of many types to many other surfaces and trim areas. It can also be used for applying .shoe polish, metal polish, paint removers, and the like.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1.An applicator for applying a liquid such as paint to a surface in a back and forth wiping stroke, comprising a backing plate of generally rectangular shape having a handle secured to one side thereof, a cushioning block made of compressible, plastic material and being of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said cushioning block having substantially the same area as said backing plate and being cemented to the opposed side of said backing plate in congruent relation therewith, whereby said cushioning block presents an outer freely disposed surface, and a piece of flexible textile material having substantially the same area as said outer surface and being cemented thereto at one side in substantially congruent relation thereto, said piece of textile material being of substantially uniform overall thickness and having a soft thick pile of short, erect threads extending from its opposite side for picking up and holding the liquid, the flexibility of said cushioning block permitting application of the liquid evenly over the surface to be painted. a

2. An applicatorfor applying a liquid such as paint to a surface in a back and forth Wiping stroke, compris ing a backing plate having a backing portion and a masking portion extending at right angles to' said backing portion along one lateral edge of said backing portion, said backing portion being of generally rectangular shape and having-a handle secured to one side thereof, a cushioning block made of compressible, plastic material and being of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said cushioning block being cemented to the opposed side of said backing portion in congruent relation therewith whereby said' cushioning plate presents an outer freely disposed surface, said cushioning block abutting along one side edge thereof against said masking portion, and

pressible in use in a direction perpendicular to said backing portion so that said opposite side of said piece.

of textile material may conform to the surface being painted and also so that said threads are pressed above the free edge of said masking portion.

3. An applicator for applying a liquid such as paint to a surface in a back and forth wiping stroke, comprising a backing plate of generally rectangular shape having a handle secured to one side thereof, a cushioning block made of compressible, plastic material and being of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said cushioning block being cemented to the opposed side of said backing plate in congruent relation therewith, whereby said cushioning block presents an outer freely disposed surface, and a piece of flexible textile material having substantially the same area as said outer surface and being cemented at one side to said outer surface in substantially congruent relation thereto, said piece of textile material being of substantially uniform overall thickness and having a soft, thick pile of short, erect fibers extending from its opposite side for picking up and holding the liquid, the flexibility of said cushioning block permitting application of the liquid evenly over the surface to be painted, said backing plate and handle being integral and made of a single piece of metal, and said backing plate having portions projecting from said opposite side along its opposite lateral marginal edges and having engagement with the corresponding opposite lateral sides of said cushioning block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,636,311 McCulloch July 19, 1927 2,086,956 Long July 13, 1937 2,156,270 Smith May 2, 1939 2,214,822 Morris Sept. 17, 1940 2,249,912 Oxley July 22, 1941 2,259,220 Ussett et al. Oct. 14, 1941 2,411,842 Adams Dec. 3, 1946 2,545,641 Allen et a1. Mar. 20, 1951 2,581,563 Vaughn Jan. 8, 1952 2,810,148 Wood Oct. 22, 1957 2,827,651 Rizk Mar. 25, 1958 2,869,168 Morneault Jan. 20, 1959 

